Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Drivetrain Tech => Topic started by: quicksilver on August 09, 2007, 02:41:18 PM

Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 09, 2007, 02:41:18 PM
i looked around but i couldnt find anything that said what the strongest 7.5 LSD was. is Auburn the strongest you can get for the 7.5 rear end?
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 09, 2007, 02:45:44 PM
Why, if you don't mind... why are you going 7.5 insted of 8.8. And are you looking for a tought aftermarket unit or stock? 83-86 TC's had a l.5 TL unit in them.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 32VFoxBird on August 09, 2007, 02:48:21 PM
a factory ford t-lok would be fine for your application. my friend runs 11.2's and gets 1.5 60' on a 7.5" t-lok.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 09, 2007, 03:00:41 PM
Fila, because i dont have the money to buy a 8.8 right now.
the only t-loks i can find are for V-6. i have that and 3.73 gears in my room right now but i dont know how strong it is. i have 10.8inch tires in the back right now.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 09, 2007, 03:01:12 PM
the gear is also made for a V6.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: vinnietbird on August 09, 2007, 03:10:47 PM
Check around for some pre-'87 TC rears.I had a TL from an '86 with the 7.5.Took everything I threw at it.No problems.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 09, 2007, 03:11:35 PM
What does a V6 have to do with anything? Just find your self a nice, used 83-86 TC and take the rear. For what you'll pay for a new auburn unit.. you can get a 7.5, new fluid have it installed
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: JeremyB on August 09, 2007, 03:23:21 PM
Detroit Truetracs change the failure mode to the ring/pinion. That's as strong as you can get.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: vinnietbird on August 09, 2007, 04:37:56 PM
If you look around enough,bargains are out there.My 8.8 TL rear with 3.55's was $66.00.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Kitz Kat on August 09, 2007, 04:45:40 PM
Run it till it won't go no more. the 7.5 is not all that weak.
I'm still running it,I do have a 8.8 on standby for it if it ever gives out or winter,which ever comes first.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: vinnietbird on August 09, 2007, 05:01:10 PM
my 7.5 went through a lot last fall,and never showed any trouble.We did a few runs at the strip,then,did about 30 (yes,I said 30) wicked long burnouts on Main Street with the car clubs.I agree with Kitz.It's not as weak as people say.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Tbird232ci on August 09, 2007, 05:20:57 PM
Youd break the rear before youd break the carrier.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 1WLD BRD on August 09, 2007, 06:22:09 PM
All three of the 7.5's I had that grenaded, blew both the bearing caps and the spider gears at the same time.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 88cat on August 09, 2007, 06:27:37 PM
From the 7.5's I've seen granaded the spider gears are the weakest link.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on August 09, 2007, 06:59:18 PM
Quote from: quicksilver;167486
the gear is also made for a V6.



There is no differance, It will break no matter what you do to it the 7.5 is weak,save your money and buy an 8.8.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on August 09, 2007, 07:00:39 PM
Quote from: 88cat;167530
From the 7.5's I've seen granaded the spider gears are the weakest link.



mine lost 3 teeth off the ring gear in the cougar.

The first one i had munched the spiders and i lost an axle (not a good experiance).
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Kitz Kat on August 09, 2007, 07:23:36 PM
I had a stock 2 something ,Put the trak lok in and tour it up hard.with the 345's in now.I do know rears tho!,thats female rears to, for you sick heads!
I did mine right because Ive done them a long time.But I am getting relearned here every day.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 09, 2007, 08:02:13 PM
well, even if i do find a 8.8, i dont have the tools, time, and experience to change it, so im going to end up paying a  load of money to have it put in.
so Aurbun 7.5 LSD?
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 09, 2007, 08:40:14 PM
Did you listen to us? It's eaiser to swap a whole rear then swap in a auburn. Just wait and do better. If you hold out for an 8.8 great. if you need a rear now go 7.5 TL from a early TC. You'll need tools and experience anyways to change the center section anyways
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 09, 2007, 09:07:34 PM
THE STRONGEST 7.5" UPGRADE YOU CAN MAKE....is an upgrade to an 8.8.  The 7.5's are rediculously weak...my t-bird had a very well-maintained 92k miles on it when i got it...after about a year of ownership the carrier as well as the ring and pinion were effed...yeah, I did more power slides then I can remember and probably spent 1/4 of my time sideways...but that's still pretty bad...I didn't realize how bad it was until I replaced it with an 8.8...never had trouble since.

Buying a turbo coupe 8.8 and having it installed will probably cost you as much as a 7.5 limited slip with new bearings and gears installed and set up....and it's still not as strong and you don't get disk brakes in the rear...and the guy at the shop might not set your gears up right and you're screwed again.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: atariman on August 10, 2007, 12:30:57 AM
hell, go ford 9"......like me.:flip:
:birdsmily:
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 10, 2007, 01:57:31 PM
That works if you have the money for it.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 04:28:23 PM
i just called around junk yards are the cheapest one i could find is $200 and its a 45minutes to and hour drive.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 04:28:50 PM
i dont have a truck either to take it back home with,
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 10, 2007, 06:00:09 PM
be patient and wait for somebody local to sell a rear...I paid $200 for an 8.8 rear out of a fox mustang with 3.08 gears and an ailing trac-lok...I got ripped, but you should be able to get a disk brake rear with 3.55's or 3.73's for around that price.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 07:09:24 PM
ok, i'll be patient, i asked around and the cheapest place would instal it for $1000. yikes!
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: atariman on August 10, 2007, 07:47:00 PM
Quote from: Sick88Tbird;167713
That works if you have the money for it.

Money helps, but it only cost me $575 to put mine in. I don't think that is too outrageous......
:birdsmily:
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 10, 2007, 07:48:33 PM
That's absurd...it's a 3hr job including bleeding the brakes!  I'd do it in my driveway for $500 for ya...lol.

Doing a rear is pretty easy...jackstands under the lower control arms...disconnect the brake hose and e-brake cables along with the shocks(at the diff end of course), then 4-bolts and its out.  Installation is reverse of removal.  You and a mechanically inclined buddy could do it in a weekend at a nice easy pace.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 10, 2007, 07:51:18 PM
Quote from: atariman;167792
Money helps, but it only cost me $575 to put mine in. I don't think that is too outrageous......
:birdsmily:


9" rears are expensive...yeah you could get a 9" out of a pick up but then it has to be narrowed, needs the right housing ends welded on, needs all the right bracketry welded on...and you'd better not screw that part up, and the upper control arm locations will be incorrect which will throw out your suspension geometry big time...not to mention you'd have to pop for custom axles...there is no bolt-in 9" available for these cars unless you go to Currie or something...then it's gonna run a $2k minimum.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: atariman on August 10, 2007, 08:16:25 PM
Quote from: Sick88Tbird;167794
9" rears are expensive...yeah you could get a 9" out of a pick up but then it has to be narrowed, needs the right housing ends welded on, needs all the right bracketry welded on...and you'd better not screw that part up, and the upper control arm locations will be incorrect which will throw out your suspension geometry big time...not to mention you'd have to pop for custom axles...there is no bolt-in 9" available for these cars unless you go to Currie or something...then it's gonna run a $2k minimum.


Nope. Don't have to pay anything for the labor as it is done by myself and a friend. He has the shop, and all the right equipment to do so. Got the strange axles from him(a steel pretty much as he was my father in law) and the 3:50 trac loc rear gears. Time consuming yes, to get the right measurements, but worth it in the long run. He puts 9" rears in everything. An 8.8 probly would hold up to a 460 no problem, but I know a ford 9" won't have a problem. I got lucky, thats all. Happens to me once in a great while. You can't tell me that if you were in the same position, you wouldn't have done the same. I didn't have to weld on any special brackets on the end of the housing either, I used the same brakes that came on the rear. Same ford pressed on bearing. 5/16 steel made the rest of the brackets. Like you say, as long as its done right, no worries.:D
:birdsmily:
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: vinnietbird on August 10, 2007, 08:50:50 PM
You can change it.4 bolts,the nuts for the shocks,disconnect the brake lines,release the parking brake lines,out it comes.Reverse the process to install it.with a buddy,you should be able to change it in an hour or so.Get two jack stands,and a hydraulic jack.After I removed the rear,I put the tires on it to roll it where I needed it.

Be patient and keep looking and you'll eventually find a great deal.The standard fee for a TC rear around here is $150.00 to $200.00.Not too bad.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 10, 2007, 08:59:20 PM
If you find one I will put it in for you for $200 plus any parts you might need, like brakes.  You can help me and learn, I have a hoist and shop so we don't have to crawl around in the driveway.  Don't really know what we would do about the speedo if different gear ratio, have to buy a gear from Ford but you can only go so far one way or the other.

What year do you have?  Switching to 4wd brakes could cause other problems.  I think a Mustang rear would be about 1" narrower for each side but I don't think this is a problem.  Chuck will tell me to look this up under search.

TED
Olympia, 360-943-7604
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 10, 2007, 10:43:54 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;167811
You can change it.4 bolts,the nuts for the shocks,disconnect the brake lines,release the parking brake lines,out it comes.Reverse the process to install it.with a buddy,you should be able to change it in an hour or so.Get two jack stands,and a hydraulic jack.After I removed the rear,I put the tires on it to roll it where I needed it.

Be patient and keep looking and you'll eventually find a great deal.The standard fee for a TC rear around here is $150.00 to $200.00.Not too bad.


Thanks for reiterating that for me vinnie...lol.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 10:58:54 PM
hey Ted, thanks, when i find a rear end, you'll be the first person i let know! i'll look down there for a rear end. my cousin lives that way so he could help me look around for one. do TC rear ends come with a posi?
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on August 10, 2007, 11:02:16 PM
Quote from: quicksilver;167839
h. do TC rear ends come with a posi?


Posi is a GM term... Yes all '87-'88 TCs have a 8.8 Traction Lock... The 86-earlier are 7.5"
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 11:05:39 PM
ok, thanks for letting me know! i'll check craigs list and see what they have
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 11:14:50 PM
hey, i found a rear end!! $75!! out of a 93 cobra. but i cant contact the guy!! i dont know how!!!
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: grutinator on August 10, 2007, 11:22:35 PM
Quote from: quicksilver;167843
hey, i found a rear end!! $75!! out of a 93 cobra. but i cant contact the guy!! i dont know how!!!




hope you have different offset wheels to throw on. mustang rears  are narrower then birds
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: vinnietbird on August 10, 2007, 11:24:38 PM
Hey,I know what it takes to make it fit the T-Bird (width).Easy to do with a few parts..Right Chuck?LOL.For $75.00,make sure it is what thet say it is.That's really cheap.On the other hand,I got mine for $66.00.I did ask a lot of questions.Good luck contacting the guy.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 11:28:12 PM
ted. i sent you the page that i found the rear end on.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 11:28:40 PM
does anybody know how to contact through craigslist?!?!
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: motormenace on August 10, 2007, 11:30:12 PM
Also look for a Couger 8.8. This will make an easy change so you don't have to do a disk brake swap. Though, you won't have 3.73 gears, only 2.73.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: grutinator on August 10, 2007, 11:36:36 PM
well 3.08 trac loc if u find an XR-7 or one with a towing package, not positive on the tow one tho
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 10, 2007, 11:54:09 PM
oo im going to by 4.10 gears for it anyways.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 32VFoxBird on August 10, 2007, 11:57:55 PM
'93 cobra rear is virtually the same as a TC rear.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 11, 2007, 01:27:44 AM
Quote from: quicksilver;167851
does anybody know how to contact through craigslist?!?!


Just hit the link at the top of the page and it will take you to email.

The 93 rear on Craigslist does not have brakes and I'm not sure yours will transfer over.  Buying things incomplete may not be a good deal.

In the same ad he has a T-bird rear for free if you take the whole car, without title.  Maybe you can talk him into pulling the rear for you.  He says it a 8.8 with 3.55 so it sounds like a Turbo Coupe.

Also he said he may have a 3.73 rear in a couple of weeks out of a Mustang, this sounds like the best deal to me.

IMO 4.10 gears are too low.

What year car do you have?

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 11, 2007, 01:29:25 AM
The drums can work on a disk brake rear, you just need to use your stock axels, drums, backing plate.. exc. Thats what I'm doing for my 3.55 TC rear soon enough
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 11, 2007, 01:33:08 AM
But if this is a Cobra rear could it be 31 spline in 1993.  Are you sure the axle width is the same?

I know we covered this before but I seem to think the 87-88 non-turbo housing was wider?

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 11, 2007, 01:47:56 AM
I forgot about that. Then it might not work. If you were closer, I could give you my spair rear I can get my hands on, a 3.08 TL 8.8 from a stang, already with Tbird axels and drums on/in it
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 11, 2007, 01:53:50 AM
Here's some very good info.

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=13253&highlight=housing+width

The 93 Cobra is narrower than the 86-88 T-bird housing and the axles and brakes will not interchange.  Mustang did not go to 31 spline till 94.

I don't think the 93 rear would be the best choice if you do not get the brakes to go with it.

The Turbo couple woudl be a good choice but I don't think I know what to do about converting to 4 wheel disc.

I think the best choice is to find a 8.8 Mustang rear, it will be a bit narrower but you can live with it or adjust this with wheels.

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 11, 2007, 01:58:32 AM
You can ballance the offset of the stang' rear with the axels and brake setp from your old rear
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 11, 2007, 02:03:35 AM
Quote from: 84 Fila;167895
You can ballance the offset of the stang' rear with the axels and brake setp from your old rear


I don't think so, the housing is wider in the T-bird, no work.

If you go to here
http://car-part.com/
 
It  will show you that Lacey Auto Wrecking has a 1988 Mustang V-8 rear for $175

1988
Rear Axle
Ford Mustang GT,302,5 Sp,RWD 111,000 A JJ4064 $175 Lacey Auto Wrecking USA-WA(Lacey) 1-360-413-0658
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 84 Fila on August 11, 2007, 02:05:31 AM
I forgot, he has the later 7.5". I have an early 83-85.5 rear, the same as a stang'. Thats why I can interchange . Sorry
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 11, 2007, 04:11:06 PM
is i get a mustang rear can i still have my 275'2 on it?
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 11, 2007, 04:13:31 PM
I did not know you had the wide tires on there already.  You need to look at the inside to see if you have 1 inch plus of clearence.  If your wheels have a 5.5 inch offset than you are okay, if they have 6.5 you are not.

Just look under the car and see how much clearence you have on the inside.

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 11, 2007, 04:37:46 PM
i have a inch or 2, so its ok then? i'll just look around for a TC rear end so i dont have to worry about that.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 11, 2007, 04:38:31 PM
and at the top of the link on criags list when the email thing pops up, i dont know how to send it. i dont know what Cc means.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 11, 2007, 06:03:19 PM
Quote from: quicksilver;168019
i have a inch or 2, so its ok then? i'll just look around for a TC rear end so i dont have to worry about that.


If have a inch or two it would be better with the Mustang.

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: 32VFoxBird on August 11, 2007, 07:03:28 PM
Quote from: quicksilver;168020
and at the top of the link on criags list when the email thing pops up, i dont know how to send it. i dont know what Cc means.


you dont have to worry about that. just fill out the subject line and body. then click send.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 13, 2007, 01:37:19 AM
TED, do you know how to out in gears too? i want to by a set of 3.73 gears too.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 13, 2007, 02:35:04 AM
I'm not the best at this, if you buy Ford gears and not aftermarket I can most likely get them to work.  I always just used the same shims and spacers and always lucked out.

I know this is all wrong but it worked for me in the past.

Gears like these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-73-gears-8-8-Ford-Mustang-GT-LX-F150_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33731QQihZ018QQitemZ280141279905QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW  Looks like this guy sells lots of gears.

There are also some on ebay for $59.95 but the guy has terrible feedback.

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 13, 2007, 02:46:20 PM
hwo much more do you want for putting in the gears? i just bought new bearings and shims. and im buying a install kit, (gaskets and such)
would this be ok?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-8-8-Axle-3-73-Ratio-Gearset-Ring-Pinion_W0QQitemZ160146933363QQihZ006QQcategoryZ33731QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 13, 2007, 03:19:16 PM
If the price stays there it will be fine.  Don't really need an install kit or new bearings.  Like I say I'm not a gear expert but we can try if you don't come back at me.

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 13, 2007, 03:49:36 PM
well, i'll just buy a cheap set of 3.73, kinda like the ones like i posted right above.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 13, 2007, 03:51:38 PM
it will be another learning experience...
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 14, 2007, 01:44:36 AM
hey TED!
i found this one.
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/pts/395942135.html
but i cant send a message to the guy asking for pictures...
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 14, 2007, 01:58:04 AM
Oregon!  Why not just get the one in Lacey for $25 more?  I'm confused.


1988
Rear Axle
Ford Mustang GT,302,5 Sp,RWD 111,000 A JJ4064 $175 Lacey Auto Wrecking USA-WA(Lacey) 1-360-413-0658

It cost me $15 in gas to go to Mossyrock and back tonight.

TED
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Sick88Tbird on August 14, 2007, 02:16:03 AM
Just buy a whole rear, or spend the money to have it done right....I had 3.73 ford racing gears put in my old car and they still had to shim the carrier because it was off...you can get away with it sometimes...but nobody is lucky forever...
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: quicksilver on August 14, 2007, 01:01:18 PM
i cant find the one in lacey anymore in craigslist, i looked, but this is the only one that i could find.
Title: strongest 7.5 LSD?
Post by: Cad-T-Bird 500 on August 14, 2007, 03:11:09 PM
It's at the wrecking yard in Lacey and I found it on part finders.  I posted the phone number for you.

1-360-413-0658

Not on Craigslist.

TED